Rear sight for firearms.



No. 684,226. v Patented Oct. 8, 190i.

C. H. GRIFFITH.

REAR SIGHT FOR FIREARMS. Application filed ma 1, 1901. (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. GRIFFITH, OF NEYV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO YVINCHESTERREPEATING ARMS CO., OF SAME PLACE.

REAR SIGHT FOR FIREARMS.

ti PEOlFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 684,226, datedOctober 8, 1901.

Application filed May 1, 1901. $erial No. 58,301. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it knownthat I, CHARLES H. GRIFFITH, of New Haven, in the county ofNew Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement inRear Sights for Firearms; and I do hereby declare the following, whentaken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the numerals ofreference marked thereon, to be afull, clear, and exact description ofthe same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification,and represent, in-

Figure 1, a detached side view of the sight; Fig. 2, a plan viewthereof; Fig. 3, a reverse plan view thereof; Fig. 4:, a view of thesight in vertical longitudinal section; Fig. 5, a detached rear view ofthe sight-frame; Fig. 6, a detached view in rear elevation, showing thehorn of the sight-plate; Fig.7, a detached broken view in perspective,showing the rear end of the sight-plate and horn, which is seen from theinside; Fig. 8, a perspective view of the forward end of thesight-plate, showing the coupling-lug thereupon; Fig. 9, a detachedperspective view of the sight-plate spring; Fig. 10, a detachedperspective view of the flattened pin on which the sight-plate swivels.

This invention relates to an improvement in adjustable rear sights forfirearms, the object being to provide a simple, compact, convenient, andeffective sight composed of few parts and having a wide range ofadjustment.

With these ends in view my invention consists in a sight having itssight-plate held in any of its adjustments by a spring.

My invention further consist-s in a sight having its sight-plate held inany of its adjustments by the forward draft upon it of a spring.

My invention further consists in the combination, with a sight-frame, ofa sight-plate located therein and a spring connecting the said framewith the forward end of the said plate and exerting a constant forwarddraft thereupon for holding the plate in any of its adjustments.

Myinvention further consists in certain details of construction andcombinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed outin the claims.

In carrying out my invention as herein shown I form twoforwardly-projecting teeth 2 at the opposite forward corners of anupwardly-turned horn 3, containing the sightnotch 3, and formed at therear end of the downwardly-bent rear portion 4B of the sightplate 5,which is located between the upright side flanges 6 of the sight-frame,the rear edge of each of the said flanges 6 being formed with a verticalseries of transversely-arranged shallow notches 7 for the reception ofthe teeth 2 aforesaid.

At the extreme upper rear corner of each flange I form a stop-lug 7,which is engaged by the teeth 2 to limit the vertical movement 'of thesight-plate over the notches 7. The

plate may be lifted over the stop-lug 7, but only by the exercise ofmore power than would ordinarily be exerted in operating the device.

The teeth 2 of the sight-plate 5 are drawn forward into the notches 7 bymeans of the forward draft of a sheet-metal spring 8, the rear end ofwhich is formed with a forwardlyturned hook 9 for engagement with theundercut rear end of a coupling-lug 10, formed upon the under face ofthe forward end of the sight-plate 5, while the forward end of the saidspring is formed with a rearwardlyturned hook 11, adapted to be hookedover the forward edge of a flattened coupling-pin mounted so. as toswivel between the extreme forward ends of-the flanges 6 of thesightframe. flattened central portion 12 and round ends or trunnions12*, separated from the said central portion by shoulders 12 and turningin corresponding trunnion-holes 12, formed in the extreme forward endsof the side flanges 6 of the frame. The said pin constitutes the pivoton which the sight-plate swings. For this purpose the forward edge ofthe couplinglug is undercut to form a deep groove 13, which not onlyreceives the pin 12, but permits the plate to be longitudinally movedWithout being disengaged therefrom. On the other hand, the engagement ofthe edges of the forward end of the plate with the shoulders 12 of thepin holds the same against 1ongitudinal movement and avoids thenecessity of riveting the same in place in the frame. The spring, beinghooked at its rear end over the rear end of the coupling-lug of theplate This pin, as shown in Fig. 10, has a and being hooked at itsforward end over the forward edge of the pin, which is mounted in thesight-frame, exerts a constant forward draft upon the plate, whereby theteeth 2, before mentioned, are constantly pulled forward into thenotches 7 in the rear edges of the side flanges 6 and with sufficientpower to prevent the displacement of the plate under any ordinary usage.To change the adjustment of the plate, it is grasped by the knurlededges 14 of its horn 8 and pulled directly rearward against the power ofthe spring 8, which elongates or opens out sufficiently to permit theplate to move rearwardly and its teeth 2 to be cleared from the notches7, after which the plate may be raised or lowered, as desired. When ithas been brought into the desired new position, the rearward draft uponit is relieved, when the spring 8 will reassert itself and pull itforward again and enter the teeth 2 into the notches 7, appropriate toits new position.

In order to prevent the spring 8 from being too much strained andpossibly broken, I locate a stop-screw 1.5 in the forward end of theplate in position to engage with the forward end of the spring andpositively stop the rearward movement of the plate in case too muchpower is applied thereto in pulling it rearward.

As herein shown, the sight-frame is made in one piece and comprises theside flanges 6, before mentioned, and a base-plate 16. The saidsight-frame is provided near its forward end with an undercut rib orplate 17, which may be formed integral with it or secured to it byrivets 18, as shown, this plate or rib being provided for the attachmentof the sight to the barrel of the arm.

It is apparent that in carrying out my invention some changes from theconstruction herein shown and described may be made. I would thereforehave it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact constructionherein shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make suchchanges and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of myinvention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a sight for firearms, thecombination with a sight-frame, of a sight-plate, and a springconnecting the frame and plate and operating to move the latter forward.

2. In a sight for firearms, the combination with a sight-frame and asight-plate, one of which is formed with one or more forwardlyprojectingteeth coacting with the other part which is suitably adapted to receivethem, and a springconnecting the frame and plate so as to exert aconstant forward draft upon the plate and maintain the said tooth orteeth in operative engagement with the coacting member of the device.

3. In a sight for firearms, the combination with a sight-frame, of asight-plate located therein, and a spring connecting the frame with theforward end of the plate and exerting a constant forward draft upon theplate for holding the same in any of its adjustments with respect to theframe.

4:. In a sight for firearms, the combination with the frame thereof, ofa sight-plate located therein and provided at its forward end with acoupling-lug, and a sheet-metal spring provided at its rear and forwardends with hooks engaging with the frame and plate and exerting aconstant forward draft upon the latter, whereby the same is held in anyof its adjustments with respect to the frame.

5. In a sight for firearms, the combination with the frame thereof, of apin mounted in the forward end of the said frame, a sightplate locatedin the frame and provided at its forward end with a coupling-lug, and asheetmetal spring having its rear end bent to form a hook to engage withthe lug, and having its forward end bent to form a hook to engage withthe pin, whereby the spring exerts a constant forward draft upon theplate to maintain the same in any of its adjustments with respect to theframe.

6. In a sight for firearms, the combination with the frame thereof, of asight-plate held in any of its adjustments by the forward draft upon itof a spring, the draft of which is overcome by pulling rearwardly uponthe plate, and a stop located in the forward end of the plate forlimiting the rearward movement thereof.

7. In a sight for firearms, the combination with a sight framecomprising two side flanges, the rear edges of which are notched, of asight-plate located between the said flanges and provided at its rearend with a horn containing a sight-notch, and with twoforwardly-projecting teeth taking into the said notches, and a springconnecting the plate and frame, and exerting a constant forward draftupon the former to keep the said teeth engaged with the said notches.

8. In a sight for firearms, the combination with a sight-frame, of a pinmounted so as to swivel in the forward end thereof, the said pin havinga flattened middle portion and round trunnions separated from theflattened middle portion of the pin by shoulders, and a stop-plateadapted at its forward end to receive the said pin-tlatwise and toengage with the shoulders thereof for preventing it from endwisemovement, whereby the pin is held in place without riveting.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES H. GRIFFITH.

Witnesses:

THOS. G. JOHNSON, DANIEL H. VEADER.

